It’s a Horror to Know You:: A.L.L. Waller!

First of all I’d like to say that finding kindertrauma was a huge step in my recognition of myself as a horror fan. It’s been kind of astounding. I went back and read every single entry (and that’s A LOT) over a month or so and it’s been a delightful education. I throw public shout-outs your way at every opportunity because I think everybody should know what a clever, interesting, funny and insightful blog kindertrauma is.

1. What is the first film that ever scared you?

Any United Artists film opening. My older sister has recently confirmed that I wasn’t scared by much as a child (except my own nightmares) but the sound… the sound! How could they have created this with any intention beyond mind-boggling terror. I still hate it…

2. What is the last film that scared you?

I just saw “Let’s Scare Jessica To Death” for the first time (at Kindertrauma’s recommendation, of course) and was astounded by what seemingly innocuous things I was utterly frightened by… like the close-up of the piston-like pendulum in the antique shop… I can’t tell you why that was frightening but it has really stuck with me.

3. Name three Horror movies that you believe are underrated.

I’m going to put a twist on this as I’m a “horror baby” still and not so savvy yet in the canon. Here are three movies that I loved long before I began to “come out” as a horror fan. They are supposed “art” films or “classic” films well-canonized by the mainstream but, once I began to think about it, I realized I had been watching and loving these “undercover” horror movies all along!

Peeping Tom. (canonized “classic”) Sure, because it’s a classic they call it a thriller but as far as I’m concerned it doesn’t get more horror than this. (“M” goes in this category too.) I only saw it once, many years ago, but I’m still freaking out over the ending! *shudder* In many ways a horror film about horror films…

Little Otik. (“art” film) MONSTER MASH! I got to see this on the big screen at the insistence of a friend and it just speaks to me with its horrible living wooden baby-cannibal plot. Such a delight.

The Tenant. (classic) Again, it’s a “psychological thriller” & I saw it at a snobby time in my life when I would have said “I do not watch horror films.” I also had absolutely no idea what I was getting into. Sure it’s psychologically thrilling but it has a soul of HORROR with its bouncing decapitated heads, teeth in the walls and an ending that is one of my favorite and one of the most viscerally horrifying of all time as far as I’m concerned. I wonder, why is The Tenant considered a “thriller” and Rosemary’s Baby “horror?” Rosemary’s Baby didn’t phase me a bit, not even a twinge of fear! You see how one could get confused about genre…

4. Name three horror movies that you enjoy against your better judgment.

I love nothing *against* my better judgement. It’s just that my better judgement can be a bit loony. Just one example:

HAUSU! I know it’s completely lunatic and out of control but it’s also one of my favorite films of all time and the movie that made me want to try to make movies! If you don’t love it at first sight I can’t justify its existence in any way but I also might not want to be your friend.

5. Send us to five places on the Internet!

Well, I’m so new at this that I only know what kindertrauma and my few horror-happy friends tell me. That means I only have one place to send you that you haven’t already sent me:

This is the first episode of a brand new podcast series called Brains Are Delicious & it features the Phantasm saga. It’s their first one and they’re still finding their sea legs but overall it’s just hilarious and smart and true. They’re going to be focussing on the VHS era of horror and I’m REALLY looking forward to the next one!

Great list A.L.L.!
I am so happy that LSJTD has been getting so much recognition through the IAHTKY lists! It is super creepy and unsettling!
BTW, Kindertrauma helped me recognize what a horror movie fan I am. Thanks again, Unk and Aunt J!

Great list! With these IAHTKYs I’ve never seen so much Let’s Scare Jessica To Death love in one place…

I first saw Hausu on a DVD from Netflix, and part of the way through it the disc started skipping and stuttering because some dirtybird previous viewer had gotten their fingerprints on the disc…But I sat there and watched it that way for a few minutes because with the context of what I’d watched so far I just assumed it was *supposed* to be doing that. That’s just how NUTSO that movie is! There’s really nothing else like it.

Thanks for the the excellent IAHTKY post and the kind words Alisia! So happy you are enjoying KT and that we’ve helped confirm your horror fan status! I agree THE TENANT is brilliant. The first time I saw that one the ending just blew my mind. So many movies these days try to pull a similar twist at the end and they never seem nearly as powerful to me. I’m also a fan of that bouncing head scene. The whole movies is crazy ahead of it’s time. Also yay to Hausu cat!